Candace Straight is confident the search firm fully vetted Hermann who came highly recommended and quickly became the front runner based on her qualifications, 1010 WINS’ Steve Sandberg reported.

“There was never indication that she was anyone’s pet choice,” Straight said, adding that she personally supported Hermann “by a slight margin,” but the final selection was made by university president Robert Barchi.

Defending Rutgers' New A.D.

Straight said she has no buyer’s remorse after speaking to the new athletic director about the allegations of abuse brought up by members of the University of Tennessee women’s volleyball team.

In 1997, several players wrote a letter detailing alleged name calling, embarrassment, humiliation and physical abuse by then coach Hermann.

“I did not know about the students and about a letter, nobody knew about that. Julie did not know about that,” Straight said. “I believe her 100 percent. I believe Julie, that’s all I can tell you. I believe Julie. I don’t know why these young women decided to come forward now, they didn’t come forward for 17 years.”

Straight calls the situation unfortunate and said Hermann and the university president Robert Barchi have the board’s full support.

“I think she’s competent to do the job, the question is can she move forward with the cloud over her,” Straight said. “I personally am very, very comfortable of the process and that Julie is the right person to lead our athletic department.”